Chinese medicine postulates the existence of qi, a circulating life force whose properties must be balanced for optimal health. Take a page from eastern philosophy and consider investing in these pairings of complementary stocks to strengthen your portfolio.

Of all the ways a company might become more valuable, this has got to be the most superficial: a simple change of name. And yet a study of corporate name changes shows that it works. From 1-800 Flowers.com to Philip Morris-Altria Group, here are some of the most noteworthy nominal transformations.

Tobacco giant Philip Morris International has just bought the rights to a new technology for delivering nicotine in a aerosol spray. The upside: Nicotine addicts get their fix without all the toxins associated with smoking. The downside: It'll be at least three years before it hits the market.